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Career Details :: Rail Car Repairers
Description
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Tasks
- Inspects components, such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, truck and brake assemblies, air cylinder reservoirs, valves, and coupler assemblies.
- Removes locomotive, car mechanical unit, or other component, using pneumatic hoist and jack, pinch bar, hand tools, and cutting torch.
- Installs and repairs interior flooring, fixtures, walls, plumbing, steps, and platforms.
- Disassembles units, such as water pump, control valve, governor, distributor, windshield wiper motor, compressor, and roller bearings.
- Tests electric systems of cars, using ammeter and by operating light and signal switches.
- Tests units before and after repairs for operability.
- Replaces defective wiring and insulation, and tightens electrical connections, using hand tools.
- Measures diameter of axle wheel seats, using micrometer, and marks dimension on axle for boring of wheels to specified dimensions.
- Repairs window sash frames, attaches weather stripping and channels to frame, and replaces window glass, using hand tools.
- Aligns car sides, for installation of car ends and crossties, using width gauge, turnbuckle, and wrench.
- Adjusts repaired or replaced units as needed, following diagrams.
- Records condition of cars, repairs made, and other repair work to be performed.
- Repairs, reassembles, and replaces defective parts, metal sections, or components, using handtools, torque wrench, power tools, and welding equipment.
- Examines car roof for wear and damage and repairs defective sections, using roofing material, cement, nails, and waterproof paint.
- Cleans units and components, using compressed air blower.
- Measures sections and drills holes to prepare replacement sections for reassembly.
Related Careers
- Electrical Parts Reconditioners
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- Motorboat Mechanics
- Motorcycle Mechanics
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Repairing & Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls
- Hazardous Equipment
Institutions Offering Related Majors
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